154 Natural Language Processing: Semantic Aspects
In case a progressive strategy has been chosen, all we need is
to traverse the TDGs backwards, i.e., starting from leaf nodes, as
related to the fi nal query state. For each leaf or inner node within a
particular TDG, we examine the preconditions assigned to them by
applying algorithm 3.0. In order to illustrate the effects of examining
preconditions retrospectively, consider the scenario of having in a
query (fi nal) state the terms {Patient, Coronary angiography, atypical
angina, gender, female, risk factors, less than 2}. A retrospective
examination of the precondition {(Patient, atypical angina) ¬ (gender,
female)} will cause the elimination of {risk factors, less than 2} from
the fi nal ...